Health-hazard-evaluation report HETA 86-519-1874, Ensco, El Dorado, Arkansas
In response to a request from the Arkansas Department of Health, an evaluation was made of possible hazardous working conditions at ENSCO, El Dorado, Arkansas, where a hazardous-waste incinerator began burning polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in March of 1981. About 275 persons were employed at the facility, including 14 located some distance from the site and 50 outside truck drivers. Quantifiable amounts of PCBs were detected in all 41 air samples at concentrations from 0.85 to 40 micrograms per cubic meter (microg/cu m), with highest levels in the kiln dock area. All 56 surface wipe samples contained quantifiable amounts of PCBs. Polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDF) and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD) were found in five of five surface wipe samples. Serum PCB levels ranged from 2 to 385 parts per billion (ppb), with 18ppb being the median. The authors conclude that environmental and medical data document excessive exposure to PCB, and environmental data document the presence of PCDF and PCDD. The authors recommend that engineering controls, work practices, personal protective equipment and exposure monitoring be used to limit exposures.
- Research Organization:
- National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 6923561
- Report Number(s):
- PB-88-221247/XAB; HETA-86-519-1874
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
CHLORINATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
DIOXIN
MONITORING
FURANS
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
INCINERATORS
ARKANSAS
EVALUATION
HAZARDS
AROMATICS
FEDERAL REGION VI
HALOGENATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
MATERIALS
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ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
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552000* - Public Health
320305 - Energy Conservation
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& Utilization- Industrial & Agricultural Processes- Industrial Waste Management
320604 - Energy Conservation
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& Utilization- Municipalities & Community Systems- Municipal Waste Management- (1980-)